Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget for California has touched off not only the annual wrangle over what to spend on what, but also the annual debate over how big the state budget really is.
Officially, the governor's budget for fiscal year 2012-13 is $137.3 billion.
That total consists of a general fund budget of $92.6 billion, $39.8 billion in special funds (the Department of Motor Vehicles and such) and just under $5 billion in bond funds.
But that official number ignores about $70 billion in federal funds funneled through the budget, bringing the total to more than $200 billion, roughly 10 percent of the state's economy.
But wait, as the TV pitchmen say, there's more. Those numbers also don't include another $50 billion or so in public pension payouts.
So – according to the U.S. Census Bureau – total state expenditures would be about a quarter-trillion dollars.
But let's go back to the $92.6 billion general fund budget. It assumes that voters will approve new taxes in November, more than $4 billion to be spent in the new fiscal year. But it doesn't include about $6 billion to pay for "realignment" of programs to local governments.
Including that amount, spending would approach $100 billion if the taxes pass, about what the general fund was spending before recession hit.
– Dan Walters
BILL WATCH
Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, has renewed his push to limit salaries for California State University presidents. Under Senate Bill 755, they could not earn more than $343,269 (150 percent of the state Supreme Court chief justice's pay), including nonprofit contributions, without the governor's OK. Pay hikes would be barred within three years of a tuition hike.
– Micaela Massimino
WORTH REPEATING
"Redevelopment agencies were never intended to be a permanent form of government."
ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS NORBY, R-Fullerton, who voted to eliminate them, talking to public radio station KPCC (89.3 FM) in Southern California
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